I was softening my stance on Rivers until I heard the ridiculously laughable assertion that Thibodeau was implementing Rivers' defense.
Actually my man, the truth is that Thibodeau did in fact coach Doc's defensive system. It is the same system that Thibodeau and Van Gundy and other disciples of Pat Riley run. Mike Fratello used a very similar system, which is where Doc got introduced to it.
I have posted this a few times this year. It is audio of Danny Ainge in a radio interview on WEEI discussing Thibodeau's impact and the assertion that it is Coach T's system:
http://audio.weei.com/m/18827930/danny_ainge.htm?col=en-aud-pod_weei-ep&q= ...
... +ainge&seek=1122.319
Start listening at the 12 minute mark. In the interview Larry Johnson was trying to praise Tom Thibodeau and Danny shot him down right away and pointed out that Doc was the man responsible for the team and the defense and it was his scheme. It is a good listen and I think Danny dispels a lot of misconceptions as to just how much Thibodeau is responsible for what happened defensively. Why people will not believe the man that runs the Celtic organization and who would know better than all of us is beyond me.
I saw the same blitzes on the pick and roll in 2006 as I did in 2008. I saw the same defensive rotations in 2006 and 2008. I saw the same positioning on the outlet passing, the same positioning on the fast break, I saw the same forcing of ballhandlers into the same help areas. I saw these things because the difference between 2006 and 2008 are the players in the system and the coach teaching the players the system. But the system is the same.
Thibodeau was amazing at teaching the defense and getting the players understanding their responsibilities within the system. But he is not some Buddy Ryan type, conceptual, scheme-based coordinator that runs all things defense in the Celtics.
Has anyone besides me sat close enough to the huddles during the games to hear what goes on? I did twice, once with Doc as coach, once with three odd years ago. Television shows us Doc being a rah-rah motivational guy but that's because they are contractually obligated not to show any x's and o's, or let anyone hear the defensive and offensive assignments and plays and other important aspects of what goes on.
What I heard and saw that game was the players coming to the bench and the assistants telling the layers what had been happening. Vet players, Clifford Ray, Tom Thibodeau and Doc all had imput as to what was happening and how to stop it. When things were going bad it was Doc being the loudest voice in that portion of the huddle. But when it came down to what was going to happen next and anything else, that was all Doc and no one else. At least not that game. And from what I saw on television, it didn't appear all that much different.
Perhaps someone who blogs here that is around that area more than I can chime in and let me know if I am way off base here. But at game time, that's Doc's team. The assistants assist and I do believe that Coach T acts in an Assist Head Coach, 2nd in charge manner, but I also believe that most here way, way overplay his role as to what occurs on that team.
I think he was great for this team and covered up one of Doc's less than great skills, that being teaching his defensive scheme. He was a huge asset to Doc's staff. But the player skill and intelligence and experience increased significantly as well and that needs to be taken into account as well.
Topic: After winning the championship..have your opinions on Doc changed? (Read 11891 times)